LA Virgil was in her 20s when she first suspected there was something seriously wrong with her health.She was working in banking at the time and would often have quick, sharp headaches “that felt like someone was stabbing me in the head”.When she started breaking out in seizures she knew it had to be something more serious.It wasn’t until years later that she was formally diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma, a rare form of brain tumour which can lead to seizures, headaches and increased intercranial pressure.Having survived more than ten years with the tumours, Ms Virgil has decided to chronicle her life’s journey in a book, ‘Surrendering my Journey to the Holy Spirit’.Published by Author House, the book tells how the singer used spirituality to cope with her own health problems and as a means to inspire others.She told The Royal Gazette: “I believe that God is allowing me to stay around to provide hope to other people and also because I am a true testament of his work.”Ms Virgil attended the Salvation Army Church in Hamilton while growing up, but said her relationship with God didn’t deepen until she became ill.She has also suffered from endometrial cancer and had to have a hysterectomy at a “very young age” and battled with lupus and osteoporosis.One of the biggest hardships was learning she couldn’t have children or even adopt because of her ongoing health concerns. “I felt like my world crashed,” she said.In January 2009 she opted not to undergo another round of chemotherapy and instead went to church. That same Sunday she met her husband, Alexander Maldonado.“I always said I wanted a child and it just so happened I must have put a request into my Bible maybe two years prior and forgot about it. Now I have a stepson. That gave me something to live for. God really is the connector of dots.”She said she looks at every new day and experience as an opportunity to touch people’s lives.“I ask myself, ‘Why am I here and who am I supposed to meet today?’”After reaching the ten-year survival milestone, Ms Virgil decided to take part in the National Brain Tumour Society’s Race for Hope, a 5K run and walk. She did it on her own and said it was an emotional experience as she reflected on the struggles with her health.“I was angry and asking God a lot of questions and I was videotaping myself along the way and meeting a lot of people.“Then I met this one guy, who was in a wheelchair and whose girlfriend was pregnant, part of his face was paralysed but he was still going on. It really made me think.“Here I am complaining because I am by myself and I have for the most part full use of my limbs. It was an eye-opening experience in gratefulness,” she said.Ms Virgil is aiming to take to the streets of Philadelphia again for the Race for Hope on November 4.She is not only planning to raise awareness of the disease, but will rally together with family and friends to raise cash for research for a cure.One of the reasons she is thankful is because many others she met with similar health challenges have since died. Ms Virgil said a combination of traditional and non-traditional medical practices and family support have helped her fight for life.She still takes a daily dose of 300 milligrams of medicine, but said she takes each day in stride.“I can see the wear and tear [on my body], like my hands they start getting spasms,” she explained.“One day I was brushing my teeth and all of a sudden my hand just whacks me in the face. We have a laugh about it. And sometimes my balance is off so I might be walking and just crash into somebody.”She believes she lives to encourage others and wants to travel the world and share her message of hope.She said she comes into contact with people all the time who can benefit from her story. On one occasion she was out walking in Philadelphia when she decided to stop by a theatre to inquire about what shows they offered.“I felt compelled to give my testimony to the lady who was there,” Ms Virgil said. “I didn’t know why I was telling her this stuff and she said ‘Can you believe my mom just passed away from a brain tumour?’”People are also constantly teaching her new lessons, such as a neighbour she struck up a conversation with in her apartment building.She noticed he had trouble walking and thought he had been in an accident, until she learned he also suffered from brain tumours.“That was inspirational to me, because while he runs a bit wobbly, he still races so that was an eye opener.”Her book is expected to be available on Kindle e-book and Barnes and Noble by Christmas, for $23.Useful website: www.braintumorcommunity.org.